A PENSIONER trapped under a hot shower suffered scalding burns to a quarter of his body and died a week later in hospital.

If 82-year-old Harry Quinn had not had severe heart disease, he probably would have survived his ordeal, a Wrexham inquest heard.

The father of seven, of Essex, was visiting his son in Llangollen to hear one of his grandchildren singing at the International Eisteddfod.

Builder Bernard Quinn, of Birch Hill, Llangollen, said he had picked up his father on July 3. The following morning his father had gone into the bathroom at about 10am to have a shower.

'A few minutes later I suddenly heard him shouting for help,' he said. The door was locked and Mr Quinn's wife, Theresa rushed to get a spare key and unlock it.

North East Wales coroner John Hughes said: 'You burst into the bathroom and he was in the corner of the shower cubicle, he was pushed up against the doors and you could not get access.'

Mr Hughes said the pensioner was being sprayed by piping hot water direct from the boiler.

His son could not open the shower doors but jumped up on the toilet and switched off the water.

As soon as Mr Quinn relaxed they were able to move him and open the doors.

Although distressed and shaken, said Mr Hughes, he appeared to have no sign of injury.

It was only a little later after he dressed that he complained of being sore and was persuaded to go to Wrexham Maelor hospital.

Mr Quinn praised the treatment his father received in hospital, particularly from A&E consultant Mr Aruni Sen.

His skin was similar to someone who had suffered sunburn, said Mr Hughes, and in view of his heart condition the hospital admitted him.

His skin started to blister and by July 7 he was feeling very unwell. Complications set in with his kidneys.

With his skin condition, he was very vulnerable to the hospital superbug MRSA, and contracted the disease, although was successfully treated for it. His organs began to fail, however, and Mr Quinn died on July 12.

Pathologist Anthony Burdge said Mr Quinn had died from acute renal failure, heart disease, with scalding to 25% of his body. His heart disease was severe. Without the heart disease he could have survived the scalding, said Dr Burdge.

Mr Hughes, recording a verdict of accidental death said: 'This is a very sad case, this was a man of ability, spirit and independence who had sad, tragic accident.'